The NPL East promises to be a tight and exciting division this season, as teams look to match the achievements of Richmond and Melbourne Victory last season, and earn promotion to the top flight of Victorian Football. We run you through each and every team ahead of the season opener tomorrow afternoon.
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Box Hill United 
Established: 1925
Coach: George Kassiadis
Last Season: 4th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 5th Qualifying Round (2-1 to loss to South Springvale)
Box Hill endured a rollercoaster 2015 season, which first saw the departure of head coach Alfredo Costatino mid-season, before becoming arguably the most in-form team in the division in the second half of the season under new coach Kassiadis, amassing 32 of 45 available points. United will be hopeful of continuing that form this season, and will be boosted by the addition of a number of players with top level experience. Perhaps the biggest signing has been that of Ex-Melbourne Knights midfielder Alex Dao, alongside former player, winger Rinor Muriqi. Benjamin Osei-Safo has joined from division rivals Kingston City, and will be another key cog in a strong squad that will be hoping to challenge for promotion, on the back of some impressive pre-season results.
Squad: Jhoan Barrero, Joey Calderone, Luca Presutti, Michael Godfrey, Jack Gow, Alex Dao, Michael Kariuki, Rinor Muriqi, Christian Pavlidis, Michael Gerace, Alexander Schroen, Nicola Surdoski, Patrick Thiakane, Kobbie Boahene, Benjamin Osei-Safo, Adrian Del Monaco, Keegan Coulter, Kazuki Okada, Lucas Johns, Caleb Ludlow, Connor Kass
In: Kobbie Boahene (Werribee City), Keegan Coulter (Nunawading City), Alex Dao (Melbourne Knights), Adrian Del Monaco (Marcellin Old Collegians), Rinor Muriqi (Green Gully), Kazuki Okada (Manningham United), Benjamin Osei-Safo (Kingston City), Connor Kass (Werribee City), Michael Gerace (Dandenong Thunder)
Out: Travis Chalk-Hatton (Richmond), Oliver Paterno (Melbourne Victory NPL), Christopher Geils (Dandenong Thunder)
Brunswick City 
Established: 1970
Coach: George Karkaletsis
Last Season: 10th in NPL 2 West
FFA Cup: 5th Qualifying Round (4-1 loss to Bendigo City)
One of the more disappointing sides in 2015, Brunswick will be hoping that 2016 provides its fans and players with more joy. Having moved across to the Eastern Conference of the NPL due to the relegation of both Werribee City and North Geelong Warriors, City will look to make their mark by building on their promising late season form and strong showings from the pre-season. Key to this goal have been signings both on and off the field, with Matthew McNamara joining as technical director, whilst Jason Principato brings NPL experience, signing from Avondale FC. Coach George Karkaletsis has hinted at a heavy squad turnover this season in order to help with the club’s on-field struggles of late and a mid-table finish would be a good result after last season’s struggles.
Squad: Adam Wright, Juan Portillo, Giorgio Mavrelis, Jason Principato, Wesley Coles, Harry Raworth, Frank Serratore, Matthew Augello, Nathan Fox, Matthew Murphy, Mitchell Vasilj, Dean Romas, Hayden Kanjo, Michael Ndjekompte, Ali Turgut, Evan Karavitis, Dimitri Vithoulkas, George Markelis, Michael Cunningham, Enes Gurkan, Peter Papadopoulos
In: Jason Principato (Avondale FC), Adam Wright (Clifton Hill), Mike Cunningham (Clifton Hill)
Out: Anthony Ianchello (Moreland City), Nick Tzoulis (Northcote City), Yach Bol (Green Gully)
Dandenong City 
Established: 1953
Coach: Aaron Healy
Last Season: 3rd in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 4th Qualifying Round (2-0 loss to Brunswick City)
Dandenong will be a team to watch in the east this season. Having finished just one place outside the playoffs in the division last term, Aaron Healy will be hopeful his men can go one place better this season. Consistency will be the key for Dandenong, with the side having maintained a title charge for the majority of last season, before dropping off the pace in the final stages. Their ability to sustain such a campaign appears to have been boosted, with the side having made a plethora of signings. Mate Eterovic has joined from newly promoted Richmond, whilst David Morovic has jumped ship from last year’s cellar dwellers Nunawading City.
Squad: Christopher Antoniadis, Jarod Blackbourn, John Carroll, Anthony Cassar, Ashley Cattermole, Mate Eterovic, Shaun Filipovic, Erkan Filiz, Halil Gur, Andres Jerez, Dario Matkovic, David Morovic, Christopher Potter, Damir Salcin, Keegan Ziada, Luke Burgess, Chris Sanita, Jack Pignata, Enes Sivic
In: Mate Eterovic (Richmond SC), Anthony Cassar (Sunshine George Cross), Luke Burgess (Noble Park United), Majak Mawith (Dandenong City Youth), David Morovic (Nunawading City), Jarod Blackbourn (Dandenong Thunder), Enes Sivic (Frankston Pines), Halil Gur (Dingley Stars), Chris Potter (Doncaster Rovers)
Out: Majak Mawith (Melbourne Victory), Sean Seavill, Alex Rojas, David Di Iorio, Robert Wynne, Bradley Clarke (Melbourne City)
Dandenong Thunder 
Established: 1970
Coach: Huss Skenderovic
Last Season: 14th in NPL Victoria (Relegated to NPL 2 East)
FFA Cup: 4th Qualifying Round (3-2 loss to Kingston City)
Once known to be a powerhouse of Victorian Football, the Thunder experienced one of the most disappointing seasons in their 46 year history in 2015, finishing rock bottom of the NPL Victoria. Skenderovic’s side will be hopeful of bouncing back at the first attemempt, but will need to see a vast improvement from last season, with the side boasting the worst defence, and second worst offence in the top division. If their neighbours City have been busy in the transfer market, then the Thunder have been nothing short of engrossed in it, bringing in no less than seven new players, whilst agreeing to transfer three others. Headlining the new transfers is Ex Adelaide and Victory midfielder Kristian Sarkies, whilst Keeper’ Fraser Maclaren has joined from South Melbourne. Youngster Dylan Facci has also joined the club from Nunawading City. Expect the Thunder to mount a serious challenge as they attempt to bounce back at the first time of asking.
Squad: Brendan Elmazovski, Viktor Mujedinovski, Dylan Facci, Sakhi Zada Faisal, Fitim Ibraimi, Kristian Sarkies, Andrew Duong, Lewis Foster, Patrick Avice, Nicholas Modaffari, Amir Osmancevic, Veton Korcari, Fraser Maclaren, Yusuf Yusuf, Jeremy Sandoval, Antonio Barbaro, Daniel Bennett, Simon Colosimo, Christopher Geils, Brandon Barnes
Ins: Kristian Sarkies (Free), Fraser Maclaren (South Melbourne), Amir Osmancevic (Peninsula Strikers), Andrew Duong (Noble Park), Dylan Facci (Nunawading City), Christopher Gells (Box Hill United), Brandon Barnes, Simon Colosimo (Werribee City), Andrew Doung (Noble Park United), Yusuf Yusuf (North Geelong), Patrick Avice (Melb Victory) and Nick Modaffari (Kingston City)
Out: Tim Purcell (Melbourne Knights), Ramazan Tavsancioglu (Hume City), Zaim Zeneli (South Melbourne), Abdirahman Ahmed (Werribee City), Adam Petko, Jarod Blackbourn (Dandenong City), Anthony Saric (Werribee City), Michael Gerace (Box Hill), Brodie Patterson (Geelong SC), Damir Stoilovic (Springvale White Eagles)
Eastern Lions FC 
Established: 1963
Coach: Jimmy Williams
Last Season: 7th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 4th Qualifying Round (1-0 loss to Port Melbourne Sharks)
Last season represented consolidation for the Lions, who, after a surging start, curtailed off during the middle of the season. Eastern, led by fierce Scot Jimmy Williams, will however, be hoping to push onto better things in 2016. Whilst promotion may be a stretch, a top half finish most certainly isn’t, especially if their final third, led by Philip Ajao and Munyaradzi Nyadzayo, can find their form. The off-season has represented more of a holiday transfer wise, with no transfers to note. Potentially one of the surprise packets of 2016.
Squad: Philip Ajao, William Ellis, Mitchell Beamish, Robert Havercroft, Michael Jones, Shaun Kenny, Ryan Losty, Cameron Neales, Munyaradzi Nyadzayo, Luke Paoli, Ziggy Razuki, Daniel Rodrigues, Slavisa Saric, Yianni Toumanidis, Andrew Williams, Thomas Falconer, Sam Burfoot, Christopher Droutsas, Matthew Collier, William Meadows, David Mckessy
In: Matthew Collier (Richmond SC), Christopher Droutsas (Bentleigh Greens), Slavisa Saric (Springvale White Eagles)
Out: N/A
Goulburn Valley Suns 
Established: 2013
Coach: Nick Kalafatis
Last Season: 5th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 7th Qualifying Round (5-1 loss to Heidelberg United)
Goulburn Valley will look to extend on a promising 2015 campaign, which saw them finish in the middle of what was a very competitive division, whilst going close to qualifying for the final 32 in the FFA Cup. Much of the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Craig Carley, who comfortably won the East’s Golden Boot award last season, scoring 33 goals, whilst the loss of Sean Ellis, the club’s second highest scorer, will force others to step up. Having not announced any signings of note, it would appear that a mid-table finish is the best result the Suns can hope for this season.
Squad: Craig Carley, Jordan Montagner, Cody Sellwood, Muntadhar Al Gazaly, Fahad Alghazaly, Greg Nash, Matthew Lelliott, Nikolaos Kalafatis, Hakeem Alaraibi, Kile Kennedy, Oliver Goodwin, Anthony Giannopoloulos, Shaun Kane, Jamie England, Hussein Sumaili, Abdullah Wahidi, Anthony Gaillard, Matthew McRoberts, Daniel Marimbe, Todd Wallace
In: Kile Kennedy, Anthony Giannopoulos (Nunawading City)
Out: Sean Ellis (Heidelberg United), Phil Petrovski (Northcote City), Naum Sekulovski (Whittlesea Ranges)
Kingston City 
Established: 1974
Coach: Nick Tolios
Last Season: 6th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 7th Qualifying Round (2-0 loss to Hume City)
Following on from a solid 2015 season, which saw the side finish just one point off third place in the division, and a deep Dockerty Cup run, Kingston will be hopeful of pushing on in 2016. City have made a number of off-season signings, highlighted by that of Defender Ryan Love from Bentleigh, whilst also adding international flavour in Frenchman Julian Chaumet and Czech Zdenek Koukal. Like others in the division, Kingston appeared genuine contenders at times last season, and there is little to suggest that they won’t at least match their league form once again.
Squad: George Stavridis, Nicholas Stamatiou, Ryan Love, Slaven Vranjesevic, Deniz Sabanovski, Rowan McNamee, Damian Iaconis, Stelios Konstantinidis, Nicholas Teichmann, Simo Jovanovic, Julien Chaulet, Hamish Millar, Peter Koundanis, Sermin Sadikovski, Zdenek Koukal, Muad Zwed, Lucas Morrey, Velibor Mitrovic, Boima Karpeh, Konstandinos Droutsas
In: Ryan Love (Bentleigh Greens), Rowan McNamee (Oakleigh Cannons), Slaven Vranesevic (Casey Comets) Julian Chaumet (AS Moulins, France),Mouad Zwed (Canberra FC), Velibor Mitrovic (Radnik Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Simo Jovanovic (Springvale White Eagles), Jeremy Karpeh (South China), Zdenek Koukal (Fk Banik Most, Czech Republic), Sermin Sadikovski (Dandenong Thunder), Konstandinos Droutsas (Bentleigh Greens)
Out: James Karvellis (Port Melbourne) Jamal Clark (UK), Sean McIlroy (Geelong SC), Andrew Doig (Richmond SC), Benjamin Osei-Safo (Box Hill United), Nick Modaffari (Dandenong Thunder), Gino Defeo (Doncaster Rovers), Jamie de Smit, Douglas Lindberg
Murray United 
Established: 2014
Coach: James Coutts
Last Season: 8th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 4th Qualifying Round (6-2 loss to Morewell Pegasus)
Murray will look to build on a relatively competitive first season as they embark on their 2016 campaign. One of the four clubs added to the NPL 2 last year, United’s inexperienced squad held their heads above water for the most part, but James Coutts will hope to see them swimming somewhat more comfortably this time around. To do this, Murray have promoted a number of players from the under 20’s, whilst also adding Korean Kyungmin Choi, who comes across the ditch following a stint in New Zealand. A mid table finish is likely the best result possible for a squad lacking the depth of others.
Squad: Jonathon Shaw, Kyungmin Choi, Lachlan Davis, Ashley Dunn, Jayson Ferguson, Ryan Giles, Sean Pye, Zac Walker, Alexander West, Nicholas Murphy, Geoffry Lino, Shane Ellwood, Melkie Woldemichael, Munyaradzi Ruparanganda, Adem Ulutas, Elliot Jones, Lionel Masudi, Harry Drummond, Angus Kelly, Rohan Pearce
In: Shane Ellwood, Alex West, Melkie Woldemichael (Youth team), Geoffrey Lino (Hellenic Athletic, NT), Kyungmin Choi (Hawkes Bay United, NZ), Rohan Pearce (Twin City Wanderers), Adem Ulutas, Munyaradzi Ruparanganda (Hellenic Athletic, NT), Nick Murphy (Myrtleford)
Out: N/A
Nunawading City 
Established: 1971
Coach: Nick Dimitrakis
Last Season: 10th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 4th Qualifying Round (2-1 loss to Old Scotch SC)
Following on from what can only be called a disastrous 2015 season, surely the only way is up for Nunawading. Having said that, their squad will still represent something of a youth side up against the big boys, with their signings still focusing on youth – Anthony Taranto from Melbourne City being a prime example. With no relegation in 2016, it could be another year of development for the side from Mahoney’s Reserve.
Squad: Peter Evangelakos, Spencer Egan-Tanner, Adrian Mancini, Dan Gathercole, Felix Dimitrakis, Jordan Siamoa, Keegan King, Anthony Taranto, Shaun Peterson, Daniel Patterson, Firaol Likassa, Calvin Lovric, Jason Samargis, Jason Koutsodontis, Arif Askari, Jarrod Del Monaco, Emile Damey, David Antequera, Samuel Antoniadis, Aki Machiyama, Nikolaos Argyrakakis, Sam Mazzolini
In: Anthony Taranto (Melbourne City), Firaol Likassa (Goulburn Valley Suns), Jason Koutsodontis (Heidelberg), Shaun Petersen (Box Hill United) and Jarrod Del Monaco
Out: Dylan Facci (Dandenong Thunder), David Morovic (Dandenong City), Ivan Skorich (St Albans Saints) and Anthony Giannopoulos
Springvale White Eagles 
Established: 1975
Coach: Boyan Mitkov
Last Season: 9th in NPL 2 East
FFA Cup: 5th Qualifying Round (3-0 loss to Preston Lions)
Springvale’s 2015 season was, to put it bluntly, forgettable. The second worst team in the NPL 2 behind the hapless Nunawading, and knocked out of the Dockerty Cup by non-NPL competition, there wasn’t too much to smile about at the Serbian Sports Club. However, 2016 is a different year, and at the very least the Eagles would be hopeful of a better cup run. The the loss of long-serving manager Zed Mihajlovic and the appointment of Boyan Mitkov could prove to be the shake-up needed for Springvale, but at this stage, they look set to benefit from another season without the threat of relegation hanging above them.
Squad: Ryan Babare, Dejan Erakovic, Zarko Milojevic, Lajos Hun, Damir Stoilovic, Jason Ricciuti, Jeremy Min Fa, Bradley Blumenthal, Erdem Ozcagli, Isaiah Joseph, Fatih Turer, Dimitar Mitkov, Marcus Holmes, Jordan Ballerini, Keletso Mthembu, Dan Westmore, John Pykett, Zaker Mohammadi, Alpay Suat, Nikola Popetrov
In: Damir Stoilovic (Dandenong Thunder), Lajos Hun (Oakleigh Cannons), Damir Stoilovic (Dandenong Thunder), Jason Ricciuti (Malvern City), John Pykett (Malvern City), Jeremy Fin Ma (Malvern City), Bradley Blumenthal (Frankston Pines), Marcus Holmes (Mazenod United), Erdem Ozcagli, Fatih Turer, Dimitar Mitkov (Bentleigh Greens)
Out: Simo Jovanovic (Kingston City), Milan Jovanovic, Slavisa Saric (Eastern Lions), Stojan Milojevic, Trent Hansen, Anthony Selemidis, Brandon Jansz, Nenad Nikolic